NHTSA Complaint #10307462 — 2007 FORD EDGE

I OWN A 2007 FORD EDGE. RECENTLY I REPLACED 3 PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE/TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS IN A MATTER OF WEEKS. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO STOP BUYING CHEAP BULBS. HERE'S THE KICKER - EACH TIME I WENT IN TO AUTO PARTS SHOP TO BUY A BULB, THERE WAS SOME ONE ELSE THERE BUYING A BULB FOR FORD EDGE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT. AND I'VE NOTICED A MUNBER OF FORD EDGE'S ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT / TURN SIGNAL NOT OPERATING. THE LAST BULB I PUT INTO MY VEHICLE BURNED OUT SO BADLY THAT THE PLASTIC BASE OF THE BULB MELTED INTO THE BULB SOCKET! FINALLY, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SOCKET, BUT NOT UNTIL I ALMOST HAD A FIRE. I THINK THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT FORD IS IGNORING OR DENYING TO AVOID THE COST OF REPLACING TAIL LIGHT SOCKETS ON THE FORD EDGE. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM IN 2 WAYS - 1. AN INOPERABLE BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL (BOTH CONTAINED IN ONE BULB) MAKES DRIVING DANGEROUS, AND 2. THERE IS A DANGER OF A FIRE IF THE SOCKET OR WIRING IS GETTING HOT ENOUGH TO MELT PLASTIC. I COULD SEND YOU A PICTURE OF THE BURNED OUT SOCKET IF YOU'D LIKE.